Bears cite talent gap in firing Angelo

New GM will have mandate to catch up with Packers, Lions

January 03, 2012|By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter

General manager Jerry Angelo is out after 11 seasons with the Bears. (Chris Walker/Tribune photo)

It was only two years ago the "Three Bears" held a news conference after missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season. President Ted Phillips, general manager Jerry Angelo and coach Lovie Smith presented themselves as a united family after a shake-up on the offensive coaching staff.

Only one of them was present Tuesday afternoon after another year out of the postseason and more turnover on offense, and this time it was to announce sweeping changes the public has been seeking. The Bears went out of their way to be clear it was Phillips' decision to fire Angelo, while Smith will be allowed to assist in the selection of his new boss — leaving no doubt who the most powerful man in Lake Forest is.

So much for unity. Angelo leaves after 11 seasons and one particularly bad year, with Chairman George McCaskey talking about needing to close a talent gap with the division-rival Packers and Lions. An extended run of poor drafts, particularly on offense, finally caught up to Angelo, who arrived in 2001 with a background in college scouting.

Angelo had spent 14 seasons with the Buccaneers, enduring so much losing, he quipped that he knew what not to do. Turns out, what he knew best was survival — at least until Tuesday, when he left with two years remaining on his contract. Phillips said he surprised Angelo with the decision, which was backed by franchise matriarch Virginia McCaskey.

While Angelo was allowed to hire only one head coach in his tenure, Smith now must hire his fourth offensive coordinator after Mike Martz also was axed on a wild day with staffers keeping a low profile at Halas Hall.

Phillips used a search firm to help him find Angelo in 2001. He'll go it alone this time — with Smith's input — and the search starts immediately, with the Bears possibly contacting candidates working for playoff teams this week.

George McCaskey, who assumed his role nearly a year ago, was emphatic the decision belonged to Phillips, spelling out the club's organizational flow chart.

"It was Ted's decision," McCaskey said. "He asked for my input. I gave it to him. I gave him the input of the rest of ownership, and Ted made the decision, which we fully support."

Phillips said the new general manager will have one restriction: Smith, who is signed through 2013, must be the coach in 2012. He's not worried that will scare off a candidate who could work elsewhere for a team that would offer immediate and complete autonomy.

"It's a great opportunity for someone," Phillips said. "And I don't see any candidates not wanting it."

The Bears released comments from Smith, who thanked Angelo for hiring him in 2004 after the arranged marriage between Angelo and previous coach Dick Jauron dissolved. Phillips doesn't see any similarities this time in asking a GM to pair with Smith. In the interim, director of player personnel Tim Ruskell will run the show, and Phillips would like to retain contract negotiator Cliff Stein.

"Ultimately, I want to bring in a general manager who understands Lovie's philosophy," Phillips said.

Phillips listed talent evaluation as one of his top criteria, a no-brainer considering Angelo's poor draft record. After 10 drafts, only two first-round picks remain on the roster, and offensive linemen Gabe Carimi and Chris Williams finished the season on injured reserve. Before Matt Forte's big season, Angelo had yet to have an offensive draft pick make the Pro Bowl.

The first eight seasons of his tenure were defined by an arduous search for a franchise quarterback as the team used 11 starters, some woefully bad, before acquiring Jay Cutler in a blockbuster trade with the Broncos in 2009. If Cutler hadn't broken his right thumb chasing down a Chargers defender after an interception in a Nov. 20 win, who knows if Tuesday's events would have unfolded.

Phillips wouldn't say the five-game losing streak that led to an 8-8 finish was the breaking point, and he continually made his way back to the talent deficiency. Since acquiring Cutler, the focus has shifted to the club's struggle to draft and develop offensive linemen, something that has begun to turn under line coach Mike Tice, a potential candidate for the offensive coordinator job.

Even on defense, the Bears started only five Angelo draft picks in most games, just two in the front seven — tackle Henry Melton and linebacker Lance Briggs.

This year, the Bears had an embarrassing botched trade with the Ravens during the first round of the draft and signed an alleged wannabe drug dealer in receiver Sam Hurd.

"There's a lot of factors that I really don't want to get into all the delineation out of respect for Jerry because he's brought a lot to this team," Phillips said. "Ultimately, we look at our division and say we need to close that talent gap, and I think the way to do that right now is a fresh start and a new look at our team."